Reusable Bag Handle and Method for Manufacturing

ABSTRACT

A reusable bag handle for carrying a bag having a cord and a method of manufacturing such bag handle. The handle has a tubular body formed of a resilient material and has a predetermined longitudinal length with opposite first and second ends. The body has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface extends longitudinally through the body between the first and second ends for carrying the cord of the bag. The body has first and second opposite loop sides resiliently biased against one another and defining a slot extending longitudinally through the body between the first and second ends for inserting the cord of the bag into a cavity defined by the inner surface and the first and second loop sides.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improvement for handling bags or the like, in particular T-shirt plastic bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a T-shirt bag B with a handle H that is held by a user to carry around different items such as groceries, clothing, electronics, etc. While carrying around these items, users face a common problem: the handle turns into a rope or cord C. As the weight of the bag increases, the cord C presses down even harder on the fingers of the user, which in turn can cause pain and inconvenience. The hand and/or fingers may become marked. The distance of travel will also be a factor, as the longer one walks around, which shoppers tend to do, the more strain there is on the fingers, hands and wrists.

There have been many suggestions to solve this problem, like improving the shopping bag itself or changing its handle. These solutions tend to be difficult to implement and not very cost effective, as they would change the shape of the problem but not solve it.

Known in the art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,758 (HOWELL) which discloses a carrier apparatus for carrying objects such as bags with cords. The carrier includes a spiralling slot for receiving the cord of the object to be carried. Also known, there is U.S. Pat. No. 2,519,186 (HERBERT) which discloses a similar bag carrier with a diagonally positioned slot for receiving the objects to be carried. Although these configurations allegedly prevent the bags to become accidentally detached from the bag when in use, these types of carriers tend to be somewhat relatively expensive to manufacture and it becomes difficult to easily mass produce them at a reasonable price because of their particular shape.

What is needed is a simple reusable bag handle that avoids being accidentally detached from the bag when in use and that is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a reusable bag handle for carrying a bag or the like having a cord, the handle comprising:

-   -   a tubular body formed of a resilient material and having a         predetermined longitudinal length with opposite first and second         ends, the body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the         inner surface extending longitudinally through the body between         the first and second ends for carrying the cord of the bag, the         body having first and second opposite loop sides resiliently         biased against one another and defining a slot extending         longitudinally through the body between the first and second         ends for inserting the cord of the bag into a cavity defined by         the inner surface and the first and second loop sides and         whereby when the cord of the bag is inserted through the slot         and into the cavity, the cord is prevented from becoming         accidentally detached by means of the loop sides.

The invention as well as its numerous advantages will be better understood by reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments made in reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag with items being carried by a user in a know manner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reusable bag handle being used to carry a set of bags, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reusable bag handle, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a reusable bag handle 1 to be used for carrying a bag B having a cord C, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the bag handle 1 may be used to carry other objects provided with a cord. Such objects may be paint cans provided with metal handles for example.

The reusable bag handle 1 has a tubular body 3 formed of a resilient material, preferably extruded plastic, and having a predetermined longitudinal length with opposite first and second ends 5, 7. The body 3 has an outer surface 9 and an inner surface 11. The inner surface 11 extends longitudinally through the body 3 between the first and second ends 5, 7 and is used for carrying the cord C of the bag B. The body 3 has first and second opposite loop sides 13, 15 resiliently biased against one another and defining a slot 17 extending longitudinally through the body 3 between the first and second ends 5, 7 for inserting the cord C of the bag B into a cavity 19 defined by the inner surface 11 and the first and second loop sides 13, 15. In use, when the cord C of the bag B is inserted through the slot 17 and into the cavity 19, the cord C is prevented from becoming accidentally detached by means of the loop sides 12, 15.

Preferably, the first and second loop sides 13, 15 are releasably contacting each other longitudinally through the body 3 and are adapted to separate from each other when the cord C is passed through the slot 17. In this configuration, in order to insert the cord C into the cavity 19 of the body 3, the user has to exert a certain force by pushing down the cord C of the bag B through the slot 17 so that this pushes each of the loop sides 13, 15 away from each other.

Preferably, the first and second loop sides 13, 15 define first and second hollows 21, 23 extending longitudinally through the body 3. This configuration provides better resiliency properties to the loop sides 13, 15 and renders the outer surface 11 of the body 3 more smooth and rounded to prevent the bag or the cord from being cut. As will be understood, the size of the hollows 21, 23 defines the cross-section shape of the body 3. The hollows 21, 23 may have many different shapes which are preferably somewhat oval or round.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the loop sides 13, 15 define a slot 17 which is relatively narrow as the loop sides 13, 15 do not touch each other. The typical distance separating the closest portions of two loop sides 13, 15 is less than 5 mm, and preferably less than 1 mm. Of course, the width of the slot 17 may be larger or smaller. A larger slot 17 is less desirable because in use the cord C may become more easily detached from the bag handle 1, such as when the user puts down the bag B onto a surface.

The loop sides 13, 15 are provided with smooth, curved and rounded surfaces that prevent the bag B from being pierced or cut by a sharp edge as the cord C is inserted though the slot 17. Indeed, in the simplest form, the body 3 may take the shape of a U. However, such a configuration is less desirable because it is provided with sharp edges that could pierce or cut the bag.

The loop sides 13, 15 may be perfectly symmetrical and each defines somewhat oval hollows 21, 23 of about 10 mm in width and 20 mm in height. The cavity 19 which is somewhat triangular may be of about 10 mm in width and 15 mm in height. The body may be of about 100 mm in length. Of course, many other dimensions could be used as well as those skilled in the art will understand.

The reusable bag handle 1 may be made of the following non-restrictive list of materials:

a) Plastic;

b) Reinforced carton; and

c) Paper.

Of course, other materials may be used.

The reusable bag handle 1 may be manufactured according to the following non-restrictive list of production methods or processes:

a) Linear extrusion: By profile shape cut to the required length; b) Injection molding: By single or multi-cavity mold that has the shape of the handle; c) Carton bent tube: A tube will be reshaped by pressing on it from the middle and bending it from the sides. This method preferably includes the following basic steps:

-   -   providing a cylindrical carton tube of a given predetermined         longitudinal length and having a longitudinal axis;     -   pressing a middle portion of the cylindrical tube along a first         transverse direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis         to form the cavity 19; and     -   pressing opposite side portions of the cylindrical tube along         second transverse directions that are orthogonal to both the         first transverse direction and the longitudinal axis to form the         slot 17.         d) Bent strips: The strips will be bent equally from both sides,         then the strips will be reshaped into an oval design. It is to         be noted that this process is under a suitable humidity and         drying method to secure the proper shape; and         e) Bent reinforced carton: The carton is cut in strips. Both         cartons are then bent into an oval shape under a suitable         humidity and drying steps to secure the shape.

The bent strip processes defined above preferably include the following basic steps:

-   -   providing a flat strip of resilient material having a         rectangular shape; and     -   bending first and second opposite sides of the strip to form the         first and second loop sides 13, 15.

One of the best methods of manufacturing the bag handle 1 is by means of the extrusion process because it creates a linear profile that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Here are some preferred advantages of using the bag handle according to the present invention:

a) It is well designed and very handy as it is similar to a briefcase handle. This design puts a layer between the user and the bag which protects the fingers; b) It is easy to install and remove, as it takes seconds to install and remove the bags from the bag handle; c) The bag handle shape and design help distribute the bag weight and provide easy handling too; d) The user can carry one or several bags in one handle, which in turn makes carrying of several bags easier to handle; e) The bag handle is a reusable handle, which can be kept and used several times; f) It is small in size, so it can be kept in a car, purse or even pocket; g) It can also be used around the house or workplace, for things that one may tie a rope around or tape, to carry; and h) It is very cost effective, and therefore can be used by everyone.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modification may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. 

1. A reusable bag handle for carrying a bag or the like having a cord, the handle comprising: a tubular body formed of a resilient material and having a predetermined longitudinal length with opposite first and second ends, the body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface extending longitudinally through the body between the first and second ends for carrying the cord of the bag, the body having first and second opposite loop sides resiliently biased against one another and defining a slot extending longitudinally through the body between the first and second ends for inserting the cord of the bag into a cavity defined by the inner surface and the first and second loop sides and whereby when the cord of the bag is inserted through the slot and into the cavity, the cord is prevented from becoming accidentally detached by means of the loop sides.
 2. The reusable bag handle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second loop sides are releasably contacting each other longitudinally through the body and are adapted to separate from each other when the cord is passed through the slot.
 3. The reusable bag handle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second loop sides define first and second hollows extending longitudinally through the body.
 4. The reusable bag handle according to claim 1, wherein the slot is less than 5 mm in width.
 5. The reusable bag handle according to claim 4, wherein the slot is less than 1 mm in width.
 6. The reusable bag handle according to claim 1, wherein the resilient material is selected from a group of materials consisting of plastic, reinforced carton and paper.
 7. A method of manufacturing the reusable bag handle as defined in claim 1 by means of a linear extrusion process.
 8. A method of manufacturing the reusable bag handle as defined in claim 1 by means of an injection molding process.
 9. A method of manufacturing the reusable bag handle as defined in claim 1, comprising steps of: providing a cylindrical carton tube of a given predetermined longitudinal length and having a longitudinal axis; pressing a middle portion of the cylindrical tube along a first transverse direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis to form the cavity; and pressing opposite side portions of the cylindrical tube along second transverse directions that are orthogonal to both the first transverse direction and the longitudinal axis to form the slot.
 10. A method of manufacturing the reusable bag handle as defined in claim 1, comprising steps of: providing a flat strip of resilient material having a rectangular shape; and bending first and second opposite sides of the strip to form the first and second loop sides. 